Chapter 74: If I Want to Kiss, I’ll Kiss—So What If It’s on the Lips?

The man said nothing, sitting across from her and staring fixedly at her. His dark eyes resembled two tranquil lakes under the night sky.

Maybe it was the dim, ambiguous lighting, or maybe it was the softness of her voice.

Or perhaps, it was the way her bright, glistening eyes looked at him so closely, with such dazed innocence, that made it impossible for him to hold back anymore.

Jiang Chengjun frowned, his face taut. After a long while, he turned his head away, his chest heaving heavily a couple of times.

His ears tinged pink as he muttered something unintelligible under his breath, his deep, magnetic voice muffled in his throat.

“What did you say?” Xia Li asked.

Jiang lifted his impenetrable black eyes. Just as Xia Li began to sense something unusual in his gaze, furrowing her brows in confusion—

At that moment, the old, dim light above them flickered.

As darkness enveloped the room for an instant, the man before her suddenly leaned forward. Something brushed against her cheek—a fleeting touch.

A rush of heat, carried by his silent breath, grazed her skin, sending a wave of indescribable shivers from her face straight to her heart.

The light flickered twice more, then returned to its usual glow.

Xia Li blinked, half-stunned, and met his eyes.

In the soft yellow light, the man stood tall, his hands clenched into tight fists at his sides. His ears were completely red, and his expression wavered between wanting to speak and holding back, his thin lips pressed firmly together.

The air seemed to freeze, the room too quiet.

Above them, near the bulb, an unknown insect that had been fluttering noiselessly settled onto the brightest spot of the lamp, remaining still like a silent spectator.

Xia Li’s eyes widened slowly.

His gaze, filled with anxiety, heat, and honesty, fixed unwaveringly on her. His handsome, chiseled features were shadowed by furrowed brows, an expression of resolve as if facing a life-or-death moment.

“You…”

Before Xia Li could speak, Jiang abruptly straightened his neck, his Adam’s apple bobbing as he tilted his face upward.

She suddenly realized that even his neck was red. Then she heard him shout fiercely into the air, “I—I kissed you, so what? Kissing’s no big deal! Xia Li, remember this—you’ll be my wife sooner or later!”

With that, he spun around and stomped away.

But before reaching the door, he made an abrupt U-turn, coming back to hurriedly gather up the dishes and carry them to the backyard for washing.

Throughout the entire process, he didn’t dare glance at Xia Li even once.

---

The next morning.

Jiang Chengjun went off to the fields to cut the rice. His cool and striking face carried an unapproachable air.

The autumn wind blew through the rice fields, crisp and refreshing. As he worked on the last harvest of late rice, he could feel the end of the season approaching.

Some families with more laborers had already finished harvesting their fields. After the busy farming period, there was finally time for them to relax, and many wore satisfied smiles, confident that this year’s harvest would bring a good New Year for their households.

Old Zhang, with his back slightly hunched, stood at the edge of the field, squinting as he sighed, “Just one more day, and it’ll all be done. That’s wonderful.”

In the field, a mantis landed firmly on Jiang’s broad, muscular back, clinging tightly as he worked.

After some time, Jiang felt an itch near his shoulder blades. He scratched it absentmindedly, then put down his sickle and went to rest by the edge of the field to drink some water.

He drank a few gulps and instinctively prepared to pour the rest over his head. But after a brief hesitation, he lowered his hand and quietly finished the rest, his dark eyes brooding as his Adam’s apple moved with each swallow.

Old Zhang, as usual, sat nearby with his pipe, chatting idly with the other men in the fields.

“Last night, they caught a couple sneaking around in the woods. Tried to nab them in the act, but they ran off.”

“Oh? What happened?”

“Wasn’t it Shun Bao from Old Lady Dong’s house? Got tangled up with some woman from the neighboring village. That woman’s old enough to be his aunt, with grandkids already! That boy Shun Bao really isn’t picky, ha…”

“How’d they get caught?”

A man nearby joined in with a sly laugh. “Shun Bao’s still a greenhorn! I heard he’s been sneaking off to the woods with that woman a few times but never got anywhere with her. Guess he got impatient…”

“And her family must’ve caught on. They followed them last night and found Shun Bao clinging to her like a monkey, kissing her!”

The group erupted in laughter.

Jiang sat quietly, his hand resting on his knee, listening to the boisterous chatter. His expression darkened.

Last night, he’d wanted to stay with her. Just like before.

But he’d messed up.

It wasn’t his fault.

Frowning, his eyes held a hint of inexplicable guilt and frustration.

He hadn’t planned on doing anything rash.

But then the light went out.

In the darkness, all he could think about was what he had muttered to himself earlier, ears burning:

“Wife, I really want to kiss you.”

And before he could stop himself, he had leaned in.

Just one touch. That was all.

In the faint, flickering light, he had clearly seen her slightly flushed, fair face, her widened eyes, and her soft, alluring lips just inches away.

It was intoxicating.

But he hadn’t dared kiss her on the lips. He chickened out at the last moment, turning to kiss her cheek instead.

Even so, he felt like he’d touched a cloud—soft, smooth, and fragrant.

Now he finally understood why people liked kissing so much.

It was sweeter than honey, thrilling to the core.

It left his heart trembling long after.

But what if she was truly angry? What if she never spoke to him again?

Jiang hung his head, regret and a strange, bitter grievance swelling inside him.

That lamp.

He was going to fix that lamp!